Methods and apparatus for detecting surface deformation of aircraft surfaces are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sensor system to monitor an aircraft surface, the sensor system including a first sensor and a second sensor. A surface monitoring system receives signals from the first sensor and the second sensor and based on the signals received, the surface monitoring system is to: detect a surface deformation on the aircraft surface; analyze one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters; and classify a severity of a detected surface deformation based on the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to determine if the detected surface deformation impacts aircraft performance or safety.
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1. An apparatus comprising: a sensor system to monitor an aircraft surface, the sensor system including a first sensor and a second sensor; a surface monitoring system to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, based on the signals received the surface monitoring system is to: detect a surface deformation on the aircraft surface; analyze one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters; and classify a severity of a detected surface deformation based on the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to determine if the detected surface deformation impacts aircraft performance or safety.
An aircraft surface monitoring system uses two sensors to detect surface deformations. A processing system receives sensor data, identifies deformations, analyzes environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) or aircraft parameters (e.g., speed, altitude), and classifies the severity of the deformation based on these conditions/parameters. The classification determines if the deformation affects the aircraft's performance or safety.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an alert detector, the alert detector is to generate a scaled value based on the detected surface deformation and the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to classify the severity of the detected surface deformation.
The aircraft surface monitoring system described above (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, and classifies deformation severity) also includes an alert system. This alert system generates a scaled value that reflects both the deformation and the environmental/aircraft parameters, using this value to classify the deformation severity.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the alert detector is to cause an alert generator to initiate an advisory alert when the scaled value is less than a lower limit of a threshold range, a cautionary alert when the scaled value is within the threshold range, and a warning alert when the scaled value is greater than an upper limit of the threshold range.
Building upon the aircraft surface monitoring system with an alert system (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, and generates a scaled value based on deformation and environmental/aircraft parameters), the alert system triggers different alerts based on the scaled value: an advisory alert if the value is below a lower threshold, a cautionary alert if the value is within a threshold range, and a warning alert if the value exceeds an upper threshold.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further including a first sensor data evaluator to compare a first reference model of the aircraft surface to a first current model of the aircraft surface provided by the first sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
The aircraft surface monitoring system (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, and classifies deformation severity) includes a data evaluator for the first sensor. This evaluator compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further including a second sensor data evaluator to compare a second reference model of the aircraft surface to a second current model of the aircraft surface provided by the second sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
Expanding on the aircraft surface monitoring system with a first sensor data evaluator (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, and compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations), a second sensor data evaluator compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the second sensor to also detect surface deformations.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further including an obscurant determiner to detect obscurant conditions.
The aircraft surface monitoring system that uses data evaluators for both sensors (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations) includes a module to detect obscurant conditions like fog or rain.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the alert detector is to ignore signals from the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are greater than a threshold value, and the alert detector is to receive signals from the first sensor data evaluator and the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are less than the threshold value.
In the aircraft surface monitoring system with obscurant detection (which uses two sensors to detect surface deformations, analyzes sensor data to identify deformations, analyzes environmental or aircraft parameters, compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations, and includes a module to detect obscurant conditions), the alert system ignores the second sensor's data if obscurant conditions are above a certain threshold. Otherwise, the alert system uses data from both sensors.
8. A method comprising: monitoring an aircraft surface via a first sensor and a second sensor, receiving signals from the first sensor and the second sensor; detecting a surface deformation on the aircraft surface based on the received signals; analyzing one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters; and classifying a severity of a detected surface deformation based on the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to determine if the detected surface deformation impacts aircraft performance or safety.
A method for aircraft surface monitoring involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) or aircraft parameters (e.g., speed, altitude), and classifying the severity of deformations to determine if they impact performance or safety.
9. The method of claim 8 , further including generating a scaled value based on the detected surface deformation and the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to classify the severity of the detected surface deformation.
The aircraft surface monitoring method (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and classifying the severity of deformations) further includes generating a scaled value based on both the detected surface deformation and the environmental/aircraft parameters, used for severity classification.
10. The method of claim 9 , further including initiating an advisory alert when the scaled value is less than a lower limit of a threshold range, initiating a cautionary alert when the scaled value is within the threshold range, and initiating a warning alert when the scaled value is greater than an upper limit of the threshold range.
The aircraft surface monitoring method which generates a scaled value for severity classification (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and generating a scaled value based on both the detected surface deformation and the environmental/aircraft parameters) also includes triggering different alerts based on the scaled value: an advisory alert if the value is below a lower threshold, a cautionary alert if the value is within a threshold range, and a warning alert if the value exceeds an upper threshold.
11. The method of claim 9 , further including comparing, via a first sensor data evaluator, a first reference model of the aircraft surface to a first current model of the aircraft surface provided by the first sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
The aircraft surface monitoring method (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and classifying the severity of deformations) involves comparing a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations.
12. The method of claim 11 , further including comparing, via a second sensor data evaluator, a second reference model of the aircraft surface to a second current model of the aircraft surface provided by the second sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
Expanding on the aircraft surface monitoring method which involves comparing the surface model with the first sensor data (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and comparing a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations), a comparison is performed against the second sensor to also detect surface deformations.
13. The method of claim 12 , further including determining obscurant conditions.
The aircraft surface monitoring method that compares data from both sensors against a model (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and comparing a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations) also includes determining obscurant conditions like fog or rain.
14. The method of claim 13 , further including ignoring signals from the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are greater than a threshold value, and receiving signals from the first sensor data evaluator and the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are less than the threshold value.
In the aircraft surface monitoring method with obscurant detection (which involves using two sensors to monitor the surface, receiving sensor signals, detecting surface deformations based on the signals, analyzing environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, comparing a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations, and determines obscurant conditions), the method ignores data from the second sensor if obscurant conditions are above a threshold. Otherwise, the method uses data from both sensors.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to: monitor an aircraft surface via a first sensor and a second sensor; receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor; detect a surface deformation on the aircraft surface based on the received signals; analyze one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters; and classify a severity of a detected surface deformation based on the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to determine if the detected surface deformation impacts aircraft performance or safety.
A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) or aircraft parameters (e.g., speed, altitude), and classifies the severity of deformations to determine if they impact performance or safety.
16. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to generate a scaled value based on the detected surface deformation and the one or more environmental conditions or aircraft parameters to classify the severity of the detected surface deformation.
The aircraft surface monitoring computer program (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and classifies the severity of deformations) further includes generating a scaled value based on both the detected surface deformation and the environmental/aircraft parameters, used for severity classification.
17. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 16 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to initiate an advisory alert when the scaled value is less than a lower limit of a threshold range, initiate a cautionary alert when the scaled value is within the threshold range, and initiate a warning alert when the scaled value is greater than an upper limit of the threshold range.
The aircraft surface monitoring computer program which generates a scaled value for severity classification (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and generates a scaled value based on both the detected surface deformation and the environmental/aircraft parameters) also includes triggering different alerts based on the scaled value: an advisory alert if the value is below a lower threshold, a cautionary alert if the value is within a threshold range, and a warning alert if the value exceeds an upper threshold.
18. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 16 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to compare, via a first sensor data evaluator, a first reference model of the aircraft surface to a first current model of the aircraft surface provided by the first sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
The aircraft surface monitoring computer program (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and classifies the severity of deformations) involves comparing a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations.
19. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 18 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to compare, via a second sensor data evaluator, a second reference model of the aircraft surface to a second current model of the aircraft surface provided by the second sensor to detect the surface deformation on the aircraft surface.
Expanding on the aircraft surface monitoring computer program which involves comparing the surface model with the first sensor data (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first sensor to detect surface deformations), a comparison is performed against the second sensor to also detect surface deformations.
20. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 19 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to determine obscurant conditions.
The aircraft surface monitoring computer program that compares data from both sensors against a model (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, and compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations) also includes determining obscurant conditions like fog or rain.
21. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 20 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to ignore signals from the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are greater than a threshold value, and receive signals from the first sensor data evaluator and the second sensor data evaluator when the obscurant conditions are less than the threshold value.
In the aircraft surface monitoring computer program with obscurant detection (which monitors an aircraft surface using two sensors, receives sensor signals, detects surface deformations based on the signals, analyzes environmental conditions or aircraft parameters, compares a reference model of the aircraft surface to the real-time data from the first and second sensors to detect surface deformations, and determines obscurant conditions), the method ignores data from the second sensor if obscurant conditions are above a threshold. Otherwise, the program uses data from both sensors.
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September 29, 2016
October 3, 2017
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